The Movies ... and the People Who Make Them (1940)

"The MOVIES 1940” STREAMLINED RKO Radio 9 mins. Development of American railroads from the days of the first continental line to the present. SWINGIN’ IN THE BARN Universal 19 mins. Diversified vaudeville display. Texas Jim Lewis, King Sisters, Fred Scott, Lucille Walker, etc. Few dull moments. THE TIMID PUP Columbia 7J£ mins. Color Cartoon. The adventures of a puppy and a kitten. TOM TURKEY 8c HIS HARMONICA HUMDINGERS MGM 7 mins. Tom Turkey and cronies have a time with their mouth organs. TRIFLES OF IMPORTANCE MGM 10 mins. Passing Parade. Doodling, vagaries in men’s clothing. A Virginia University secret society. TROUBLE SHOOTER RKO Radio 9 mins. Horton Smith offers practical hints for good golfing. UGLY DINO Paramount 7 mins. Stone Age Cartoon. The ugly baby dinosaur saves his brothers from a saber tooth. UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS L9-6 Raising sledge dogs; molten lead sculpturing; redeeming mutilated money; model battle fleet maneuvered by remote control; clock collection; mail-carrying gyroscope plane. In Cinecolor. THE VALLEY Vitaphone 10 mins. Agricultural development of Alaska’s Mananuska Valley by Dust Bowl refugees. In color. WIMMIN HADN’T OUGHTA DRIVE Paramount 7 mins. Popeye tries to teach Olive how to drive. A can of spinach saves the day. WHAT’S YOUR I. Q. ? No. 2 MGM 9 mins. Pete Smith. Eight questions against a background of gags. Deanna Durbin “SPRING PARADE” SPRING PARADE: Produced by Joe Pasternak for Universal Director: Henry Koster Screenplay: Bruce Manning, Felix Jackson Story: Ernst Marischka Music Score: Charles Previn Photography: Joe Valentine Art Director: Jack Otterson Editor: Bernard Burton Ilonka Tolnay Deanna Durbin Harry Marten Robert Cummings Gustav Mischa Auer Max 6? Moritz Butch (s' Buddy Jenny Anne Gwynne Emperor Franz Josef .... Henry Stephenson Pepi Walter Catlett Laci Teschek S. Z. Sakall Von Zimmerl Samuel S. Hinds Count Zorndorf Allyn Joslyn The Major Reginald Denny Spirited and diverting romantic comedy with music in which Deanna Durbin as a peasant maid of Old Vienna falls in love with a soldier composer. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 89 minutes) Austria before anschluss, the old Austria of Emperor Franz Josef, is the scene of Deanna Durbin’s eighth picture and first period film to date. The story takes place in and around Vienna, during the idyllic 90’s, long before the lilting waltz and irrelevant intrigue made way for the goosestep and Gestapo. Settings are resplendent and evocative, music wistful and gay, the story itself conventional but withal pleasing in its lighthearted depiction of romantic incident. On her way to the fair, where she hopes to sell a goat, Ilonka, a young peas ant lass, buys a fortune which predicts that she will journey to Vienna and wed an artist. Shortly afterwards she meets Gustav, who purchases the goat, bets Ilonka the animal against the money she cannot dance the wild czardas. Ilonka whirls away till Gustav collapses, but is so exhausted she falls asleep on what she believes to be a haystack. She wakes up on a load of hay being driven toward Vienna by Laci, a baker. Laci takes her to his home, where she shares a room with Jenny, the shop girl. When Corporal Harry Marten comes to the bakery to make a date with jenny, he meets Ilonka, and later a note which went astray brings them together again. Presently the two young people fall in love. Ilonka recalls the lortune teller’s prediction after the gallant corporal composes a sensational waltz while entertaining her at a wine garden. Although Harry is interned for breaking a military rule, Ilonka intercedes for him before Emperor Franz Josef, who arranges a magnificent ball where the Corporal conducts an orchestra playing his own composition. Henry Koster's direction maintains a steady forward tempo throughout a good part of the film, and contributes many novel and amusing touches. Colorfully costumed and in fine voice, attractive Deanna Durbin carries through her assignment with sure skill. Whether dancing, singing, merrymaking or gracefully responding to the compliments of the Corporal, Miss Durbin demonstrates poise and graciousness. Robert Cummings as Corporal Harry Marten makes good use of a major, if not a vital, role. Henry Stephenson as Emperor Franz Josef, Mischa Auer as Gustav, the peasant dancer, Butch & Buddy as mischievous nephews of baker Laci, and Anne Gwynne as Jenny score with neat delineations. One of the best performances is contributed by S. Z. Sakall as the shrewd but tenderhearted old baker. Tunes include, “It’s Foolish But It’s Fun,” “Waltzing In The Clouds,” “When April Comes,” “Blue Danube Dream,” and “In a Spring Parade.” SLIGHTLY TEMPTED: Produced by Ken Goldsmith for Universal Director: Lew Landers Screenplay: Arthur T. Horman Story: Max Marcin, Manuel Seff Photography: Charles Van Enger Editor: Frank Gross Professor Ross Hugh Herbert Judy Ross Peggy Moran Jimmy Duncan Johnny Downs Ethelreda Knox Elisazeth Risdon Petey George E. Stone Duchess Gertrude Michael Gentleman Jack Robert E. Keane Cartwright Harry C. Bradley Mayor Ammerson Harry Holman Findiggle Walter Soderling Warcross William Newell Satisfactory light comedy starring Hugh Herbert as a confidence man who fleeces a couple of other crooks in order to help his daughter’s fiance. (Adults 8C Young People) (Running time, 60 minutes) When filch-artist Ross is released from prison, he joins his daughter, Judy, and 98